Isoproterenol

Isoproterenol (Isuprel) is a nonselective beta-adrenergic agonist structurally very similar to epinephrine, which I commonly use in the electrophysiology (EP) lab to induce tachyarrhythmias for the electrophysiologist to map out and ablate. Unfortunately, this medication is also a classic example of the price gouging imposed by pharmaceutical companies. Production rights for isoproterenol transitioned several times in the last few years, and with that, the price escalated from ~$50 to well over $1,000 per vial. And no, we can’t blame “drug shortages” this time.

Another classic indication for using isoproterenol is in heart transplant patients. These patients often require a direct adrenergic agonist to modulate their heart rate as donor hearts are denervated. In my practice in both the ICU and OR settings, I use alternatives like dobutamine and epinephrine to achieve many of the same adrenergic/hemodynamic goals as isoproterenol for much cheaper. Understanding the mixture of adrenergic receptor agonism conferred by these medications either as sole agents or combined is a pivotal part of hemodynamic management in acute care medicine.

Drop me a comment below with questions! 🙂

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